Ohio State Forward Jared Sullinger Will Enter NBA Draft

One year and a Final Four loss later, Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger will enter the NBA draft, according to reports.

Sullinger was also the first player to be named an AP All-American in his freshman and sophomore seasons since Chris Jackson of LSU in 1989 and 1990. (Reuters/Jeff Haynes)

Sullinger, a Columbus native, opted not to leave Ohio State after last season when he averaged 17.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 0.5 rebounds per game. He perhaps would have been a top five pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. Now, Sullinger may not be a top five pick in the upcoming NBA Draft because of such a deep pool of talent, but he will most likely fall in the top ten.

This season, the 6-foot-9 sophomore averaged 17.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in 2011-12, helping to lead the Buckeyes to their first Final Four since 2007. On Saturday, Sullinger posted 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in a 64-62 loss to Kansas in the national semifinals.

Sullinger was a two-time Associated Press All-American --the first player to earn that honor in back-to-back years since North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough in 2009-and was also named to this season's John R. Wooden All-American Team.

Sullinger was also the first player to be named All-America in his freshman and sophomore seasons since Chris Jackson of LSU in 1989 and 1990.

We knew he was going to be a special player, said Ohio State head coach Thad Matta. And to see him get these accolades he has received and won at the level he's won at speaks volumes to the player he is and that select category and only being a sophomore lets you know what a great player he is.